Like 2022 was a year of T20Is, 2023 will belong to the One-Day cricket. Asia Cup will return to the fifty-over format, and the mega-event ICC World Cup will be played. All top guns, including India, have begun preparations for the forthcoming tournament and are busy playing bilateral matches to figure out their preferred 15. Recently, India thumped Sri Lanka 3-0 at home and will soon host New Zealand and Australia. The Men in Blue concluded one-day internationals against Sri Lanka when they won by a whopping 317-run margin. This article will focus on the five biggest margins of victories in the 50-over format.
5. South Africa vs Sri Lanka – 258 runs
The 1st ODI between South Africa and Sri Lanka game at Paarl on January 11, 2012, ranks fifth on the list, as the hosts won the game by a whopping 258 runs margin. The Proteas, batting first, put 301/8 on the board with the help of a century from Hasim Amla, and a fifty-plus score from AB de Villiers. Lasith Malinga was the lone star for the Lankans with the ball with his five-wicket haul. The Island Nation, in reply, failed to read South Africa’s pace attack and was dismissed for 43 runs, the fifth-lowest score in ODIs history. South Africa won the match by 258 runs, and Morne Morkel, who won the player of the match award, picked up four wickets, while Lonawabo Tsotsobe took three.
4. South Africa vs Zimbabwe – 272 runs
South Africa again made it to the list, as they handed Zimbabwe a 272 runs defeat in the 3rd ODI at Benoni on October 22, 2010. The Proteas, batting first, fell one run short of 400 and ended their innings with 399/6 on the board. AB de Villiers again starred for the team, playing 109-run innings. JP Duminy won the player of the match award for his knock of 129 (117). Zimbabwe, in reply, tumbled on 127 runs as every Protean bowler picked up a wicket. Rusty Theron took a three-wicket haul. Zimbabwe’s 272-run defeat was the 2nd biggest loss back then.
3. Australia vs Afghanistan – 275 runs
Australia, who recently pulled out from the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, scripted history against the Mohammad Nabi-led side. During the 2015 Cricket World Cup, Australia defeated Afghanistan by 275 runs registering the biggest win by runs in a World Cup match. Australia, batting first, scored 417 runs after 50 overs. David Warner scored 178 (133), the highest score by an Australian in a World Cup. Further, Steve Smith amassed 95, and Glenn Maxwell came to the party and gathered 88 off 39 balls. In reply, Afghanistan were bowled out for 142 runs as they were clueless to Mitchell Johnson’s magic. Johnson picked up a four-wicket haul, while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood both had two wickets in their kitty.
2. New Zealand vs Ireland – 290 runs
The 2nd on the list is the 2008 match between New Zealand and Ireland. The two nations traveled to Scotland for a tri-series, where the Kiwis handed the Irish 290 runs drubbing. New Zealand, batting first, had a walk in the park as openers James Marshall and Brendon McCullum walked back to the pavilion with 150+ scores. Marshall scored 161 (141), and McCullum amassed 166 (135). It was one of the rare innings where no batter scored less than a fifty-plus score. Nonetheless, Ireland were too weak for the Kiwi attack. Tim Southee and Michael Mason picked up three wickets each and restricted the Irish to 112. It was the largest ODI victory by runs and kept the record for 15 years.
1. India vs Sri Lanka – 317 runs
The Rohit Sharma-led side scripted history on Sunday, January 15, as India thumped Sri Lanka by record 317 runs. India, batting first, put 390/5 on the board as Virat Kohli brought up his 46th ODI hundred and the second for this year. Kohli scored 166 (110), while Shubman Gill struck his first ODI century on Indian soil. The surface looked different when the Lankan came to bat as they were clueless against Mohammed Siraj’s swinging deliveries. Siraj picked up a four-wicket haul and restricted Sri Lanka to 73 runs.